Page 10 of Best Friends

Chapter Two

Three days later…

“I’ve got a reservation. Under Kingston,” Jesse said at the hostess station.

“Just one minute,” the beautiful woman at the podium said.She was wearing a silk, form-fitting Chinese dress and looked stunning. She smiled softly at him before looking back down at her computer.

Jesse glanced around at the waiting area. The decorations were stunning. There was a koi pond all around them. A stone bridge from the front door to the hostess station crossed over the water and gave a beautiful view of the fish below.

Huge stained glass windows hung around them, most of them depicting water scenes with koi, dragonflies, and ducks. They seemed to be used as walls, giving diners a private setting. Asian music played softly in the background.

“Cool place, buddy,” Adam said from behind him.

Jesse turned and gave his friend a bro hug. “Glad you came out.”

“I think I needed a night out—to get me out of this funk.”

“What put you into the funk?”

Adam’s expression hardened some. “Life, man. You know… just everyday bullshit.”

We’ll see about that. According to Benji, Clay had finally agreed to come, just not stay late. Hopefully it was long enough to get the two to iron out their differences.

“Is the rest of your party here?” the woman behind the podium asked.

“They should be here any moment,” Jesse said.

“We aren’t supposed to seat guests before the entire party has arrived,” she said decorously.

“No problem. We can grab a drink at the bar and get the night rolling,” Adam said, urging Jesse to the side.

“We’ll just be over here,” he said, winking at the hostess.

She smiled at him and nodded.

Before they could get two bottles of beer, Benji showed up with a huge guy. Huge. A towering wall of muscle.

“Hey, Benji,” Adam said, shaking their friend’s hand and looking up at a wall of muscle. “Who’s your date?”

“Not my date,” Benji spat, his face growing a bit red.

Jesse noticed an odd look cross the Hulk’s face.

“This is Mac. He just moved across the hall—and he’s new in town,” Benji added. “These are old friends—Adam and Jesse. We all went to college together.”

“Nice to meet you, Mac,” Adam said, shaking the huge guy’s hand.

“Nice to meet you, as well,” Mac said before offering a hand to Jesse.

Jesse’s hand felt like it was in a vise before the guy let go. “What brings you here?”

“First job out of college,” Mac said.

Jesse eyed the dude. He had to be thirty-something. “Late bloomer?”

“Marines first,” Mac said. “Then college.”

“Ahh,” Jesse said. That made sense. The guy looked like he could do some damage. “Thank you for your service… can I buy you a beer?”

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